In the name of God Amen, I Hilary SIMMONS of Currituck County living at Caleb BELLs the elder which was lying sick upon his death bed on Tuesday the nineteenth day of February in ye year 1788 at which time the said Caleb BELL asked me if he cold give a few thing without a written will, I told him I believed he might and that it would stand in law, then says he the said BELL you know the land I give to BRICKHOUSE is not equal in value to the land I allot for the other boys and says he my desire is and I give my negro man Tom to BRICKHOUSE to make his land as good as the other boys, and says he I also give my old negro man the other one to my Wife to her use and at her death for her to give him to who she pleased but if she did not then to be equally divided among my children. And I do believe he the said Caleb BELL was at the time in his proper senses at that time, and I was informed the said BELL dyed Thursday 21 of February 1788 and upon the 7 day of March 1788 pirsonally appeared before John SIMMONS Esq. one of the Justicies of the Peace for the County of Currituck Hilary SIMMONS and proved the above will in due form of law.
    /s/ Hilary SIMMONS
        sworn to befor John SIMMONS JP

And the widow of said BELL together with Caleb BELL, Duke BELL and Francis MORSE being summoned and all present all approved of the above will
    /s/ John SIMMONS JP

Recorded and examined the 20^th day of March Anno Dom 1788.

This will was contributed by Judy Merrell Brickhouse. No part of this document may be used for any commercial purposes. However, please feel free to copy any of this material for your own personal use and family research. If you find anything in these records that pertains to your families, it is strongly suggested that you look at the original record on your own to check for errors or possibly other additional and helpful information. Thank you!